Machine for manufacturing twine and yarn



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

T. FINIGAN. MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING TWINES AND YARNS.

' No. 564,275. Patented July 21, 1896.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2,

T. PINIGAN. MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING TWINES AND YARN3. No. 564,275.Patented July 21, 1896-.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

'T. PINIGAN- MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING TWINES AND YARNS.

' No. 564,275. Patented July 21, 1896.

UNITED STATES PATENT Orricn.

THOMAS FINIGAN, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY.

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING TWINE AND YARN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 564,275, dated July 21,1896.

Application filed July 25, 1895. Serial No. 557,081. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS FINIGAN, acitizen of the United States, and aresident of the city of Paterson, in the county of Passaic and State ofNew Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Machinery forManuf acturin g Twines and Yarns from Sisal Fibers, whereby material orfibers of a harsh and wirelike nature may be spun finer than hithertoand a cheaper and stronger product rendered available for commercialuse, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new machine for spinning sisal fiber, or fiberobtained from pita or other leaves,which have hitherto been used solelyfor rope -making, binder twines, or hammocknets, which require but aslight twist, irregularity in the body of the line bein g of littleimportance.

It has been usual to spin rope and twines upon a jenny by the use ofgills drawing the fiber toward the flier, but in the experiments oftreating sisal fiber I found it to be impossible to produce a reliableline by their use, and adopted the mechanism fully described in thefollowing specification, and. illustrated by drawings, in which similarletters and figures have reference to similar parts.

I may mention that one of the greatest difficulties encountered wascaused by the tendency of the ends of the fiber to curl up and leave thebody of the sliver in drawing through the nipper and so carrying theadjacent fibers with them, causing wire-drawing of the yarn and forminga bulk of loose fiber at the nipper,which necessitated frequent stoppagefor clearing away and mending up. In order to control the loose ends andkeep them'in line with the body of the sliver, I found that a conicalcup or gatherer made to rotate at a certain speed opposite to therotation of the flier collected the loose ends, and by the loose fiberscoming in contact with the internal surface of the bell-mouth they wereconducted to the center and incorporated with the body of the fiberbeing drawn into yarn. I also found that the gills permitted the fibersto slide past each other too rapidly, and similarly caused awire-drawing of the sliver, and by the use of rolls guiding the fiberduring the drawing process, so keeping the strands together as to allowbut a sufficient slide to the fiber to keep a uniform size throughoutthe line, gained an equable product.

I am aware that the use of rollers is general in flax machinery, buthasnot hitherto been used in the treatment of sisal or other harsh fibers.

I may also mention that I give to the sliver prepared for use a slighttwist,which still f urther tends to incorporate individual strands witheach other while in the process of drawing.

In Figure 1 I show a part front elevation of a frame, showing twospindles. Fig. 2 represents a sectionaldetail view of the rotarygatherer and nipping or drawing rolls with part of the flier-head. Fig.3 is a detail of a drawing-capstan and gear, showing grooved rubbercover-band. Fig. 4. is an end elevation of a frame, showing arrangementof driving-gear for flier, rolls, &c. Fig. 5 is a detail showingpressure mechanism for the rolls located on girth, part in section. Fig.6 is a rear end elevation of frame, part sectional, showing the drivingarrangement for vertical shafts, building device for bobbins, anddriving-motion for the same.

A, Fig. 1, represents a frame of my invention and consisting of endframes A A held together by girths or rails a a a a &c., on v the uppertable of which the inclined standards A are secured, a frame andstandard being located between each of the end frames for each four ormore spindles for rigidity. The upper ends of the inclined standards Aare held in line by the creel-frame A and the rails 15 and 36. At therear of the frame, near its lower part, a longitudinal drivingshaft B islocated in suitable bearings formed in the framing, provided with thedriving pulleys B and the gear-pinion B at its outer extremity. Agear-wheel B in mesh with the pinion B and provided with asprocketpinion B is located upon a suitable stud secured to the frame A.Located at intervals on shaft B bevel gear-wheels B are secured in gearwith the pinions B, which are secured to the lower ends of the verticaldriving-shaft E, giving motion to the flier I tube f and gatherer H bythe pulleys E E and the grooved wheel E the shafts E being held inposition vertically by bearings in the girths or rails a a and bycollars E secured by set-screws in proper alinement opposite each flier,as in Fig. 4. From the sprocket-pinion B an endless link belt Z iscarried upward to a sprocket-wheelD, which is located on the hub of thepinion (l.

A gear-wheel N in geared contact with the pinion C is located on theouter end of the roller-shaft K, which extends the whole length of theframe, a similar pressing-roller shaft K hein provided behind and gearedto shaft K by the pinions K shaft K being located in bearings formed inthe framing AA, &c., and shaft K held in adjustable bearings suspendedfrom the rail 25, as shown in Fig. 1, and provided withpressing-rollers, levers, and weights, similar to arrangement shown inFig. 5. On the shaft K rollers K are secured and located centrally witheach flierhead, and on the shaft K rollers K are secured similarly, soas to form a pair of nipping or drawing rolls for each flier, as inFigs. 1 and 4:.

On the outer end frame A, located upon a suitable stud, is a gear-wheelI, mounted upon the hub of a sprocket-pinion P, the wheel I being -ingeared contact with the pinion C. An endless link belt Z connects thesprocket-pinion P with the sprocketwheel D, which is secured to theouter end of the shaft 14, which is mounted in bearings (Z, adjustablysecured in the slots A formed in the inclined standards A at each end ofthe frame and on the intermediate stands. At intervals in vertical linewith the fliers fluted rollers 13 are located on the shaft 14, and atthe back of said shaft similar fluted rollers 12 are located in pairs onpivoted shafts 9, which are suspended at each end in the adjustablecradle-bearings 10, forming partof the rail 15, secured to the upperpart of the inclined standards A a projecting fork extending ou twardlybetween each pair of rolls, forming a pivot for a bell-crank lever (i,which is provided with an adjustable weight 18 at one end and-afork-bearing at the other to receive projecting pins on the nut 7,located on the screw 8, which by a suitable end partly embraces thepivot-shaft 9, as in Fig. 5. At the end of the shaft 14 011 the innerside of the frame A a gear-wheel Z is located in contact with the pinionZ, located upon a suitable stud secured to the frame A A sprocketpinionZ is located on the hub of the pinion Z. An endless link belt Z connectsthe sprocketpinion Z with the sprocket Z", located on the roll-shaft :t,which is provided with thesmooth rolls -;l-l, located opposite eachflier.

The shaft 4 is located in adjustable stands d, secured in the slot A inthe stands A The roller-shafts 1, 2, and 3 are similarly earried inadjustable bearings (Z oZ d located in the slot A In front of theroll-shaft 1 a pair of smooth pressing-rolls 21 are secured to thepivoted shaft 11 and located loosely in the inclined cradle arms 4*,formed on the rail 36, which is secured to the stands A as in Figs. 1and 4, and act as feeding and clamping rolls for the fiber, as willappear hereinafter. On the outer end of the shaft 1 on the inner side ofthe stand A is a sprocket-wheel Z and similarly on shafts 2 and thesprocket-wheels Z Z which interlock the upper and under sides of a linkbelt Z as shown in Fig. l. On the extreme upper part of the frame andsecured to the stands A a creelframe A extends the length of the frame,provided with the pins NV, suitably located for the bobbins \V.

Located in suitable bearings formed in the raila above each flier andcentrally in line with each spindle 7.; rotary gatherers ll are placedto receive the yarn and conduct it to the rolls K K The gatherer ll isprovided with a groove for the driving-cord X and has a bell-mouthedconical orifice ll through it, and at its lower extremity 11 formedconical to enable its exit to approach as near as possible the point ofcontact between the rollers Kli drawing the fiber, as in Fig. 2.

Located in bearings formed to receive the same in the rails a. a fliersF with open arms of the usual construction are assembled, driven by thepulleys F. The inner tube f by its pulley L, the gear-pinion .in contactwith the gears f of the eapstans f operate the same. The capstans areprovided with a circumferential groove f to interlock and engage aprojection formed on the inner surface of a grooved. rubber rin g f. Thegrooves f are formed to conduct the yarn, as in Fig. 3. A spindle 7c islocated in suitable holes in the rails (i a and passing through thebuilder-rail I), the upper end engaging the capstan-bar on the flier andthe lower end loosely secured to the lower rail a by a catch it,engaging an annular groove, as in Fig. 1'

At the rear end of the frame, as in Fig. 6, a sprocket-pinion R issecured to the end of the shaft 14, and an endless link belt Z connectsthe same with the sprocket-wheel R, which is mounted upon the hub of thegear-pinion R located upon an adj ustablc stud secured to the end frameA. A similar adjustable stud car ries the gear-wheel R in contact withthe pine ion R and which has located upon its hub the pinion R", ingeared contact with the wheel R upon which the heart-cam R is secured,and also mounted upon a stud secured to the frame A.

A roller friction-wheel R in contact with the heart R is located upon astud secured to the lever T, which is pivoted at its outer end by thestud T secured to the bracket T on the frame A. The other end of thelever T is provided with an elongated slot T, in which the stud T islocated, and to which the rod T is pivoted and coupled by the turnbuckleT and adj usting-screw T to the chain T", which is fastened to theperiphery of the pulley T secured to the outer end of the builder-shafth, as in Fig. 6. The shaft 1), which extends the whole length of theframe and is carried in suitable bearings, is provided at intervals withpulleys I), to which chains 1) are secured at one end, the other ICC IIO

being connected by an adjusting-screw to the foot of the builder-rods bsecured to the builder-rail b. The rail b upon which the bobbin D sitsis provided on its upper sides with raised edges, the front beingprovided with notches b to adjust the tension-cord b and the back havingholes in which the cord may be secured by a knot in the usual manner.The bobbin D is provided with a groove on its lower end for tensionpurposes.

Having described the construction of my device, I will now proceed todescribe the use or operation of the same.

The sliver or rove Y being prepared with a slight twist, about fourturns to the foot, is wound upon the bobbin WV and placed upon the pin Wand entered between the rolls 12 and 13. Motion by belt is given to thepulley B and shaft B and by the bevel-gears B B to the vertical shafts Eand the pulleys E E E which by the belts or cords X X X impart motion tothe fliers F, tube f and gatherer H. The pinion B on the driving-shaft Bimparts motion to the gear-wheel B and sprocket B located on a studsecured to the frame A, which by the endless link belt Z gives motion tothe gear-wheels P and N by the sprocket-wheel D and gear-pinions O,which are carried by a stud. The gear-wheel P, having upon its hub thesprocket-pinion P, by the endless link belt Z imparts a rotary motion tothe shaft 14 by the sprocket: wheel D. The shaft 14 by its flutedrollers 13 meshing with the pressing-rollers 12 conducts the sliver orrove downward to the roller on shaft 1 and its pressing-roll 21. Theshaft 14 by the pinion l, in gear with the wheel Z and sprocket-wheel Zgives motion to the endless link belt Z and by the contact of its links,on the inner or the outer sides, rotates the sprocket l and shaft 1 byits inner side, the sprocket Z and the shaft 2 by its outer surface, thesprocket Z and shaft 3 by its inner surface, and round the sprocket Zdrives the shaft 4, with its roller 41, which may be of larger diameterthan those on shafts 1, 2, and 3. The sliver Y after passing through thehole 33 in the rail 15 and between the fluted rolls 13 and 12 passesthen downward and between the roll on shaft 1 and the loosepressing-roll 21, then under the roll on shaft 2 and over the rolls onshafts 3 and 4, and then enters the bell-mouthed cup H and through therotary gatherer H is entered between the drawing-rollers K K the shaftsof which, K K being geared together by the pinions K and forced intocontact by levers and weights, as in Fig. 5, draws the fibers of therove Y and reduces it in size to form yarn, after which it is passedthrough the tube f to and around the drawing-capstans f over a wharveand through an eye on one arm of the flier F, and then is wound upon thebobbin D. The capstans are covered with rubber for the purpose ofcooperatin g with the rollers K K to make a uniform draw of the fibersas the action of the fiier putting twist into the yarn up to the nip ofthe drawing-rollers binds the fibers together as they pass through therolls K K It is evident that the fiber being of a harsh and hard natureand of different diameter that in passing through the rollers K K theydo not get the same amount of nip to draw them, but directly being incorporated in the yarn by the action of the twist given by the flier theyare moved along at the uniform speed of the capstans, which have thesame surface speed as the drawing-rollers K K ,less the contractioncaused by the twist, the rubber covering of the capstans permitting theyarn to frictionally adhere to their surfaces owing to the drag on thebobbin by the cord and weight b adjusted in the notches b of thebuilding-rail b. The rotation of the shaft 14, which at its rear end isprovided with a sprocket-pinion R, giving motion by the endless linkbelt Z to the sprocket-wheel R and pinion-gear R which are carried on anadjustable stud, secured to the frame A and imparts motion to thecompound wheels R R also carried on an adjustable stud, in their turndriving the gearwheel R and heart-cam R also mounted on an adjustablestud. The heart-cam R on its rotation causes the lever T by itscontact-roller R to rise and fall, raising and lowering the rod T T Tand causing the chain T to unwind or permit it to be wound upon thepulley T WVhen the chain T is unwound from the pulley T on thebuilder-shaft b the chains 1) are wound upon the pulleys b raising thebuilder-rods b and the builder-rail b to which they are secured,carrying the bobbin D upward. The rail 1) and the rods 12 and chains areso arranged as to keep the roller R pressed to the surface of theheart-cam R to insure an equal lay on the bobbin. It is obvious that thefilling of the bobbin is regulated by the relative speed of the shaft Kand the number of revolutions of the heart It, and the length of thetraverse by the throw of the heart-cam and the relative distances of thepivot T roller R and stud T on the lever T and the diameters of thechainpulleys T and b I I may, to more fully describe the action of therollers 1, 2, 3, and 4 and their influence on the rove between thefeeding-rollers 12 and 13 and the drawing-rollers K K state that therove beingheld by the feeding-rollers 12 and 13 and passed between therolls 1 and 21 retains the twist, thence passing under the roll on shaft2, where it is nipped by the rise to the roll on shaft 3, relieving therove of strain above this roll, and. passing over the roll on shaft 4 tothe drawing-rolls K K it is untwisted as far back as the roll on shaft2, permitting the rove to be drawn gently and equally between thosepoints.

It is evident that without the rollers 1, 2, 3, and 4 and the ridingroller 21, which with the roller 1 forms a pair of feeding and clampingrolls, that the sliver or rove would pass directly to the gatherer andthence to the ICC drawing-rollers, and thereon starting the machine theaction of the drawing-rollers, which are traveling at their surfaceabout eight times faster than the feed, would be to un twist the rove orsliver up to the nip of the feed-roller, and in doing so the friction orbinding between the fibers would be lost, and owing to the distancebetween feed and drawing rollers having to be greater than the length ofthe fibers--namely, three feet or morethe rovewould immediately part andbreak down.

By putting in the rollers 1. 2 3 l and riding roller 21 and placing themso as to be adjustable in relation to the rove and yarn to be spun,especially roller 1 and riding roller 21, it enables me to make auniform parting-point of the fibers which have enltered the drawingrollers from the fibers which are being fed down from the feedingrollersand thereby producing a uniform yarn or twine.

Instead of the rove being untwisted up to the feeding-roller it actuallyuntwists only up to roller 2, and by the help of the gatherer, which isrotating in an opposite direction to the twist of the rove on thebobbin, it opens up the rove and allows the fibers which are travelingfast to bring the others into a straight line with them to the center ofthe gatherer. The amountof twist still left in the rove above roller 2has also an effect in uniform drawing.

\Vithout the rollers or without the twist and without the relation ofthe rollers to the rove it is certain that the fibers gripped by thedrawing-rollers would pull the fibers apart irregularly and break therove down.

Having described the construction and operation of my invention, what Iclaim, and de-- sire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. In a machine for spinning sisal fiber, the combination with a supportfor bobbins, a flier for spinning the fiber drawn from the bobbins,means for rotating said the r; a gatherer, means for rotating saidgatherer; supporting-rolls between said gatherer and bobbin-support, apair of feeding and clamping rolls between said supporting-rolls andbobbi n-support and within a distance of the gatherer, less than thelength of the fiber being spun and drawing-rolls between the gathererand flier, substantially as herein shown and described and for thepurpose set forth.

2. In a machine for spinning sisal fiber, the

combination with a support for bobbins, a flier for spinning the fiberdrawn from the bobbins, means for rotating said flier; a gatherer, meansfor rotating said gatherer; rotative supporting-rolls between saidgatherer and bobbin-support, means for rotating said rolls, a pair offeeding and clamping rolls between said supporting-rolls andbobbin-support'and within a distance of the gatherer, less than thelength of the fiber being spun, means for rotating said feeding andclamping rolls; and drawing-rolls between the gatherer and flier, meansfor rotating said drawingrolls; substantially as herein shown anddescribed and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a machine for spinning sisal fiber the combination with a supportfor bobbins, a flier for spinning the fiber drawn from the bobbins,means for rotating said flier; a pair of feeding-rolls directly belowthe bobbins, means for rotating said feeding-rolls a gatherer, means forrotating said gatherer; supporting-rolls between said gatherer and thefeeding-rolls, means for rotating said supporting-rolls, a pair ofclamping and feeding rolls, between the uppermost supporting-rolls andthe f cedin grolls below the bobbins, and within a distance of thegatherer less than the length of the fiber being spun, means forretating said clamping and feeding rolls; and d rawing-rolls between thegatherer and flier, means for rotating said drawing-rolls; substantiallyas herein shown and described and for the purpose set forth.

i. In a machine for spinning sisal fiber, the combination with a supportfor bobbins, a flier for spinning the fiber drawn from the bobbins,means for rotating said flier; a gatherer, means for rotating saidgatherer; supportinga'olls between said gatherer and the bobbin-supporta pairof adjustable feeding and clamping rolls between saidsupportingrolls and bobbin-support and within a distance of thegatherer, less than the length of the fiber being spun, an endlesslinked belt for rotating said supporting-rolls and the adjustable fceding and clamping rolls,and drawin g rolls between the gatherer and flier,means for rotating said drawing-rolls; substantially as herein shown anddescribed and for the purpose set forth.

. THOMAS FINIGAN.

Witnesses:

RICHARD A. IIEALY, EDWARD D. OUNDELL.

